Posted on Wednesday, October 10, 2007                                                     by Ben H

¹Now the children of Reuben and the children of Gad had a very great multitude of cattle: and when they saw the land of Jazer, and the land of Gilead, that, behold, the place was a place for cattle;

⁵Wherefore, said they, if we have found grace in thy sight, let this land be given unto thy servants for a possession, and bring us not over Jordan.    

⁶And Moses said unto the children of Gad and to the children of Reuben, Shall your brethren go to war, and shall ye sit here?

⁷And wherefore discourage ye the heart of the children of Israel from going over into the land which the LORD hath given them?

The situation here is very interesting. God’s people, after a forty year journey are at last about to cross the Jordan River into the land of promise. This land was to be a land of prosperity and overflowing blessing for them if they obeyed the Lord, a land “flowing with milk and honey.”

But these two tribes, Reuben and Gad, stop short of the Jordan and look around. What do they see? They see their flocks grazing contentedly on the rolling green hills. Then a thought struck them: Why should we go over the Jordan when we are perfectly comfortable right here?  When they approached Moses with the idea of settling down, a flag went up in his mind. Were they doing the same thing that their parents did forty years ago?

In the Spirit-led life there are points where we are going to feel uncomfortable. I know for me growth is painful. My pants are getting shorter, I squirm and groan, I whine, I try to find a comfortable position. The Spirit rarely lets us settle down, because he knows what happens when we do. We get lazy and apathetic. He will take us therefore into places we have never been (isn’t that what faith is all about?).

Going back to the children of Reuben, were they trying to cause trouble? No, they even promised to fight with their brethren as long as needed. But they never stopped to think that God just might have much greater blessings for them on the other side of the Jordan. He had promised it, hadn’t he? But they decided to settle down in their comfort zone. This is what is good for me and mine. I’m just fine here, Lord. You can bless them and I’m cool with that.

God is calling us to step out of our comfort zones. I can say that blanketly. That is the way the Spirit works. If you are comfortable, it is time to ask God what is wrong. Remember Lot…and his wife? Lot meant well, but he did not stop to ask God what his will was. Maybe like him, you are finding yourself in lots of compromising positions. That is a good sign that you are too comfortable. Lot was a saint, but his life was a waste. Abraham became the father of faith.

For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God (Romans 8:14)    

I love to discuss this stuff. Let me know what you think (critiques welcome).

   Posted on Wednesday, July 18, 2007                                                              by Ben H

For Such a Time as This

I was stirred by a message I heard recently by a brother named Mike Guzzardo. Do you realize that this current generation of young people is the largest in this nation’s history? This is also by far the wealthiest generation of young people this nation has ever had.

Most importantly, this generation has been raised in what many are calling a post-Christian America. There has never been a more crucial time for the spread of the gospel.

The problem is the relativistic spirit of the age. Nobody seems to care about anything anymore. Nothing surprises us or moves us for that matter. We have now seen it all. And yes, I am talking about in the body of Christ also. We have been lulled to sleep by the spirit of the age, or should I say, the god of this world.

It’s time that we realized we are in all out war for our generation. They have been crying out for meaning in world where truth has been trampled in the dust of post-modernism. They have been crying out for hope where Christ has been slammed onto the politically incorrect stack.  But who is giving them Jesus? Do you realize that only 4% of this nation’s youth are believers? 4%! This means 96% are on their way to hell as you read this.

O, my friends, the last thing we need right now is to be politically correct. We need some warriors for truth! I dare you to be politically incorrect radicals for Jesus Christ. Passion is what we need to fight the apathy of this age. As that Newsboys song goes, why do we act like we are spreading a disease? You have the words of life on your lips! You have meaning, truth! How can you hold back?

Mike Guzzardo made a beautiful allusion to WWII. Americans of that generation had such a resolve to win the war that they were willing to make whatever sacrifice as long as it meant they were helping the war. People refrained from joyrides because that fuel could be used for the war. Women stopped wearing pantyhose, because that material could be used for parachutes (what a far cry from today—we all grumble over the small inconvenience of higher gas prices).

We as Christians need to do the same. We all have something to contribute to this war. We need to get creative. The war is on. We can hide our head in the sand and hope that when we look up it will have passed. We can flip on the tv, raise the volume, reach for the popcorn, laugh the night away, while the enemy reeks havoc. Or we can get up and fulfill our purpose, our commission on this earth.  

"For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place and you and your father's house will perish. And who knows whether you have not attained royalty for such a time as this?"—Esther 4:14

   Posted on Wednesday, June 13, 2007                                                          by Ben H

Raging Storms

Sometimes life can be overwhelming. Tragedy strikes like a violent storm. I try to get my mind around it but my face is being battered by the wind and the rain. I have so many questions, so many fears, each one like a dagger penetrating my side. The questions and fears leave gaping wounds in me. Tears are gushing from a river of grief and disbelief within me. I try to open my mouth to ask the question, but it will not come out. There is lump in my throat blocking the words inside and allowing them to fester and corrupt my insides. Yes, the storm is raging all around me, and yet it is within me also. 

God, is it okay to ask why even though I know somehow you are in control? I know the all the usual words that we as Christians use to comfort ourselves in times like these, but sometimes, God, I just have to ask the question: Do you really know what You are doing here? Is there any point in praying? Is this too big a problem for you?

I am reminded of a certain group of people who went through a storm in the Bible. They asked similar questions:

And on that day, when even was come, he saith unto them, Let us go over unto the other side. ³⁶ And leaving the multitude, they take him with them, even as he was, in the boat. And other boats were with him. ³⁷ And there ariseth a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the boat, insomuch that the boat was now filling.

³⁸ And he himself was in the stern, asleep on the cushion: and they awake him, and say unto him, Teacher, carest thou not that we perish? ³⁹ And he awoke, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.

⁴⁰ And he said unto them, Why are ye fearful? have ye not yet faith?

⁴¹ And they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him? (Mark 4:35-41)

As I read this, I think that, like the disciples, I ask these questions because I easily forget who God is. Notice that the disciples were actually surprised when Jesus calmed the storm. Who is this, they asked. Maybe my fears and unbelief are a result of my forgetfulness of who God really is. That is why I ask questions like, Don’t you care if we perish?

Remember what Jesus first said to them: Let us go over to the other side. He is taking us through this storm not because he likes to see us suffer, but to take us to the other side. Is he in there in the midst of the storm? Oh, yes! He not only is there but He is revealing his power to us in a new and glorious way! So look up, and praise Him in the storm! He is going to glorify Himself in the midst of it!   

   Posted on Wednesday, May 9, 2007                                                                 by Ben H

Diet and Exercise

Joseph has always been one of my personal heroes. I supposed the older I get the more I respect the man, the example that he was.  He was young and far away from home for the first time. He was incredibly gifted; everything he touched prospered.

Before he knew it, he was second in command to his boss. I often wondered how at that point he found the strength to say no when temptation came. The carnal mind would say it was a golden opportunity: he was far from everyone that knew him. What did he have to lose? 

The key to Joseph’s strength is revealed when he is before Pharaoh. After Joseph interprets Pharaoh’s dream and offers a solution, even the pagan ruler can clearly see Joseph’s secret:

And Pharaoh said unto his servants, Can we find such a one as this is, a man in whom the Spirit of God is? (Genesis 41:38)

Joseph had the Spirit of God dwelling in him! That was his secret, and even a heathen king could not deny this man had something that no other in his court had.

Ok, you might say, I have heard that before. But I’m saved--don’t I have the spirit of God in me? So why do I always give into temptation?  You do! But remember, you still have that old sin nature, that flesh that wars against the spiritual man.

Let me put it this way. You have two dogs that you are preparing for a fight. You feed one steaks and you let it get exercise daily. The other you feed scraps and only let it out to use the bathroom. Which one will win the fight? Pretty obvious isn’t it! Well there is a war inside of you everyday between the flesh and the spirit. Whichever side you feed the most, exercise the most, will win. It is that simple! If you sit and watch most prime time television, your flesh will get fed. If you feed yourself with God’s Word, your spirit gets exercised. Almost everything you do throughout your daily walk can be traced back to this.

I am finding that the key is a life of disciplined communion with God. Have a daily spiritual workout in the midst of the daily routine. You will find that, like Joseph, you will prosper in all that you do regardless of the circumstances.

Romans 8:1—There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

   Posted on Wednesday, February 28, 2007                                                      by Ben H

This Day

This verse, given in an address to the children of Israel before they entered the promised land, has a powerful message for us today:  

This day I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live

(Deut. 30:9) 

It struck me when I read this verse that this is my daily choice. I can choose the path of blessing, or I can choose the path of cursing. When I choose to obey God, I reap the blessings of obedience. The blessings are eternal, but just to name two immediate benefits: peace with God and with those around me and physical blessings that come from fulfilling my tasks faithfully.

On the other hand, I can choose to do my own thing, to live for the moment, to be selfish and lazy. In a sense, every time I choose sin, I choose death (separation): death to my relationship with God and death to my relationships with others. God in His mercy allows us to reap also the physical consequences of sin: loss of money, loss of time, loss of success.

Everyday, I have this choice: Blessing and Cursing. All too often, I choose the latter, I choose to live for the moment. The way of Blessing after all is not always pleasant. Sometimes it can become mundane, routine (to us anyway). The way of cursing does not have barbed wire around it and prison towers. In fact, it has lights and music and confetti. I weep sometimes just thinking of all the time and resources I have wasted pleasing myself and not God.

But you know, there is hope for fools like me. It’s at the feet of Jesus. I am not the man that I want to be, but there is one who can save this wretch. Do you know Him?   

As you have been an object of cursing among the nations, O Judah and Israel, so will I save you, and you will be a blessing. Do not be afraid, but let your hands be strong. (Zech. 8:13) 

Yesssss! God can turn anything around. In fact, that’s his specialty. He makes a walking curse like me into a blessing.  Look at these cool lyrics by John Waller: 

Let it be said of us
While we walked among the living
Let it be said of us
By the ones we leave behind
Let it be said of us
That we lived to be a blessing for life

Let it be said of us
That we gave to reach the dying
Let it be said of us
By the fruit we leave behind
Let it be said of us
That our legacy is blessing for life

This day
You set life, you set death right before us,
This day
Every blessing and curse is a choice now
And we will choose to be a blessing for life

Let it be said of us
That our hearts belonged to Jesus Let it be said of us
That we spoke the words of life
Let it be said of us
That our heritage is blessing for life

For your Kingdom, for our Children
For the sake of every nation

   Posted on Wednesday, January 31, 2007                                                     by Ben H

Pain Relief

So many times I put the cart in front of the horse as I plod on in this incredible journey. I know that in this life, if I am to pose any kind of threat to the enemy of my soul and of the body of Christ, I need something extra-natural, something beyond myself.  I know that what I need is God's power in my life, for in myself I can do nothing. I find myself crying out to God: "Give me that power!" But am I willing to pay the price for it? Do I really know what it is I am asking for?

Before I walk in that anointing, before I can live radically and dynamically for the King, there is something I must do...I have to die! Before Jesus walked in the power of resurrection he had to endure the shame and pain of the cross. He was afraid, yes; His will resisted that cup of pain. 

Our greatest enemy is Satan's ally within us, our flesh. The flesh wants to choose the high road, the comfort zone, the express lane, the dollar menu (you get the picture). Christ never promised any of that. He called us to identify with Him. That means we are not only partaking of the benefits but of the heartaches. The way of holiness is never popular. In fact that word holiness makes my flesh wince. I am going through it now. The breakings, the pain, and sometimes the loneliness.

It was while I was feeling sorry for myself recently that I randomly received a text from a friend: "God is the strength of my heart." In such a small way God was showing His love for me. If I did not have the trials how could I learn to trust Him? Remember, my friends, what Christ said:

"Take my yoke upon you and learn of me for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." (Matt. 11: 29,30)  There is rest for your weary soul even as you bear that yoke of pain and suffering. I know it has been so hard for you. Come to Christ and rest a little while. He wants you close to his bosom. Don't you just love Him for that?